Jai Sriman Narayana !!
The trinities of Dakshina Bajan
Sampradaya Sri Bodhendra Swamigal, Sri Sridhara Ayyavargal and Maruthanallur
Sri Sagduru Swamigal publicized that Nama Sankeerthana is the simplest form of
worship of Lord, attain salvation in
this Kaliyuga. Sri Sadguru Swamigal/Venkataraman
was born in the year 1777 in a Telegu Brahmin family in Thiruvisainallur. His father had great interests and profound
knowledge in sacred scriptures and Veda Sastra. Venkataraman learned Veda Sastras under the
guidance of his father; he also had the opportunity to learn the sacred scriptures
and life of holy men and saints, especially the great epic Srimad
Ramayana. He cultivated the habit of
chanting Rama Nama, immersed in the nectar like Rama Kavya, treated himself as
Lord Rama. He continued to live in
Thiruvisainallur, the places of holy men and saints.
Venkataraman followed the path of
his father; he had chosen performance of Vedic rituals and Shraddha as livelihood. Once, he had to perform a Shraddha ritual in
a house nearby village. He started
chanting Rama Nama in the early morning hours and it took him long hours to
complete in the evening. Instantly he
remembered the Shraddha ceremony he was agreed to perform. He was alarmed, hurried to the house in order
to beg for forgiveness. Surprisingly,
the man in that house greeted him with utmost reverence and thanked him for his
dedicated performance of the shraddha rituals.
In a moment, Venkataraman was in a state of ecstasy, he reverently remembered
the compassion of Lord.
Years passed by, Venkataraman was
married to a pious woman Janaki. After
the sad demise of his father, Venkataraman took the responsibility of taking
care of the family; he journeyed to nearby villages to teach the children Veda,
his disciples were brilliant and it helped him to earn more and more
students. Shortly, Venkataraman found it
difficult to allocate time for Rama Nama Japam, so he discarded the family life
and left to Ayodhya. He immersed in
chanting Rama Nama Japam and engaged in Uncchavruthi, eventually he reached
Andhra Pradhesh. There he found mass of
people travelling to Thirupathi singing Rama Nama and dancing to the tunes in a
state of bliss. The very moment he had
decided to bring awareness and Bakthi cult among the people of Tamil Nadu, he
decided to incorporate the compositions/Sambradaya of great saints and holy men
of North and the compositions / Keerthana of saints of South. On that night Sri Bodhendra Swamigal appeared
in his dream, advised him that he has realized the purpose of his life and he
need not go back to Ayodhya. Further,
Bodhendra Swamigal instructed him to return to Thiruvisanallur to spread Nama
Bhakthi. Venkataraman sincerely followed
the instructions of his Acharya and returned to Maruthanallur. He constructed a spectacular form of Dakshina
Bajan Sambradaya, incorporating the stunning compositions of Sri Jayadevar’s
Ashtapadi, compositions of Sri Bodhendra Swamigal, Sri Sridhara Ayyaval,
Badrachala Ramadasar, Thyagarajar, Purandaradasar, Tukaram etc… A mutt was established in Maruthanallur and
Dakshina Bajana Sambradaya was taught to the people at large. Gradually he was known by Maruthanallur Sri
Sadguru Swamigal.
Maruthanallur Sri Sadguru
Swamigal visited to Govindapuram to worship the Samadhi Sthal of Sri Bodhendra
Swamigal. He was unable to locate the
Samadhi Sthal, he was disconsolate remained fast for nine days, without moving
a bit immersed in chanting the Rama Nama.
On the tenth day, he regained conscious and hurried to the banks of
river Cauvery. There he kept his ears on
the ground as if listening to something, he continued the search and eventually
he heard the loud majestic voice of his Acharyals Rama Nama Japam. Maruthanallur Sri Saduguru Swamigal approached
the ruler of Tanjore (Sarfoji) and magnificent Samadhi Sthal was constructed in
its place. On the previous night the
King had a dream in that Lord Anjaneya informed that Lord Rama was on his way
to meet him. King Sarfoji fallen at the
feet of Maruthanallur Sri Sadguru Swamigal and attained blessings.
Maruthanallur Sri Saguru Swamigal
performed many mysterious events those were truly mesmerizing. Once, a person Balakalochan was sarcastic at Swamigal
while Swamigal was attending Uncchavruthi.
Soon Balakalochan was afflicted with excruciating stomach ache, before
long his wife begged for forgiveness to Swamigal. The compassionate Swamigal gave the holy water
from his vessel. After consuming the
holy water Balalochan got rid of the stomach ache and became the disciple of
Maruthanallur Sri Sadguru Swamigal. Balakalochan
composed marvelous verses’ praising his Acharya ‘Athade Parabramam’ stands as
Guru Vandanam in Dakshina Bajana Sambradaya.
Maruthanallur Sri Swamigal
devoted all his for forty years of life in spreading the Bakthi cult through
the soul stirring Nama Sankeerthana, attained Samadhi at the age of forty. Swamigal shaped a unique form of Bajana Sampradaya,
incorporating the compositions of various saints and holy men of different
states and adding mesmerizing effects with the various musical instruments of
divinity into it. In this way, he introduced
an exceptional form of worship of Lord and created an enormous awareness
amongst the public. Maruthanallur Sri
Sadguru Swamigal marvelously shaped the Dakshina Bajan Sampradaya for the occasions
of performance of Radha Kalyanam, Sita Kalyanam, Rukmini Kalyanam etc… and in a short span of time it became widely celebrated
among the people.
Maruthanallur Sri Sadguru
Swamigal attained Samadhi at Thiruvavduthurai Sri Jagathrakshaka Perumal Temple
in the year 1817, on the previous day of Rama Navami.
Jai Sriman Narayana !!
